end

Amazon: Just Kidding, You Can Keep Selling Used Nintendo Games

On Thursday, the company sent an email to third-party dealers, saying they would need approval to sell used Nintendo Games. Turns out the email was actually sent out in error, Amazon claims.




end

The 10 Best Nintendo 64 Games

The N64 game library feels historically slim compared to other Nintendo consoles, but these are the greatest Nintendo games of the 64-bit era




end

Lyon extend European record

Lyon extended their record tally of final wins to six while their run of four victories in a row is twice the next best.




end

SB 12-02 Agricultural Holdings (Amendment)(Scotland) Bill

9 January 2012This briefing details the development of the Agricultural Holdings (Amendment)(Scotland) Bill and the changes proposed by the Bill.




end

Adolescents' Views on Gender Equity May Be a Moving Target, Survey Finds

Adolescents show mixed opinions over gender equality in recent survey.




end

What Happens to Academic Gender Gaps When Students Grow Up?

Academic gender gaps in reading and math follow different paths as American students move from their school years into adulthood, according to new federal data.




end

What's Behind the Gender Pay Gap Among Educators?

Female teachers, principals, and superintendents in Pennsylvania earn significantly less money than their male counterparts, a new study shows.




end

Narrow Definition of Sex Could Affect Transgender Students

The Trump administration's move to narrowly define gender according to sex assigned at birth could impact transgender students and schools' policies with respect to their rights.




end

Q&A Collections: Race & Gender Challenges

All posts from the past seven years on race & gender challenges - in one place!




end

Feds Probing Transgender Policy, Alleged Assault

The Education Department's office for civil rights will investigate whether a Georgia elementary school's policy for transgender students contributed to the alleged assault of a girl.




end

Justices to Weigh Whether Title VII Covers Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity

The issue is significant not only for school employment but also for whether a related federal law would protect students on the same basis.




end

When School's a Battleground for Transgender Kids, Teachers Learn to Protect, Affirm Them

Equipping teachers to help transgender students feel safe and included requires special training, advocates say.




end

Gender Gaps

In spite of stereotypes, gender gaps in math and reading aren't universal. The most comprehensive study to date on gender gaps suggests the size and even the direction of the gaps vary from one school district to another.




end

Q&A Collections: Race & Gender Challenges

All Classroom Q&A posts on race and gender challenges from the past eight years are described and linked to in this compilation post.




end

Free dental services for veterans, active military and dependents

Pennsylvania College of Technology dental hygiene students and volunteer dental professionals will provide free dental hygiene services to veterans, members of the armed services, and their dependents on Saturday, April 4.




end

PCMag.com 2017 Editorial Calendar

Lineup is subject to change. Please see our masthead for editorial contacts.




end

Superintendent: Immigrant Students Need a Safe Harbor in School

In the wake of anti-immigrant violence, we must help make sure that all students feel welcomed, writes Susana Cordova.




end

Sony RX100 Buying Guide: Which High-End Compact Camera Is Right for You?

Sony reinvented the premium point-and-shoot camera in 2012 with the RX100. It's continued to build out the series, but has also kept older models on sale. We're here to help you find the right one to suit your needs.




end

Fin24.com | Trump offers 'rogue killer' theory, sends Pompeo to Saudi Arabia

US President Donald trump has suggested that 'rogue killers' may be behind the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey.




end

Fin24.com | Deutsche Bank, Siemens CEOs waver on attending Saudi event after journo goes missing

The heads of Deutsche Bank and Siemens, two of Germany’s biggest companies, are among a dwindling number of high-profile delegates still scheduled to attend an investment conference in Saudi Arabia following the disappearance of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.




end

Fin24.com | Moelis keeps hand extended to Saudis as rival bankers pull back

The founder and chief of his eponymous investment bank traveled to Riyadh to extol the virtues of friendship. He stood out as many of the titans of U.S. finance sat out the kingdom’s signature investment summit amid international outrage over the killing of government critic Jamal Khashoggi.




end

Online newsletter provides updates, recommendations on spotted lanternfly

A new online newsletter offered by Penn State Extension will give readers “the scoop” on the spotted lanternfly.




end

Uganda and Rwanda: Friends or Enemies?




end

Rwanda at the End of the Transition: A Necessary Political Liberalisation




end

End of the Transition in Burundi: The Home Stretch




end

Elections in the Congo Not an End in Themselves




end

North Kivu: How to End a War




end

Congo: A Stalled Democratic Agenda

State building in the Democratic Republic of Congo is at risk of failing without a new impetus to support democratic consolidation in 2010.




end

Congo Crimes Should Be on the Agenda of the UN Security Council

The UN's release of a long awaited report on crimes committed in the Democratic Republic of Congo between 1993-2003 is not only an opportunity to re-examine the historical record of mass violence in DRC -- the scale and nature of which was often overlooked in the wake of the genocide in neighboring Rwanda -- but is also a chance to correct the terms of the deceptive and fragile peace some leaders wish to proclaim in the resource-rich Great Lakes region of Africa.




end

The Lord’s Resistance Army: End Game?

Insufficient political will has thwarted regional efforts to stop the murderous Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) but vigorous diplomacy led by the African Union (AU), an immediate military push and complementary civilian initiatives could end the misery of thousands.




end

Central African Republic is descending into anarchy

Since the March 24 coup by the Seleka, a loose coalition of Muslim rebels, the Central African Republic has been in free fall. There are about 400,000 internally displaced people, 64,000 refugees, and burned villages, largely in the western part of the country. Banditry, the rise of self-defense militias and clashes between Christian and Muslim communities are now part of daily life for this mineral-rich country in the heart of Africa. The expanding insecurity makes the delivery of humanitarian assistance difficult, and the United Nations has even warned of the risk of genocide.




end

Congo: Ending the Status Quo

A new consensus and strategy are urgently needed to tackle the numerous, brutal armed groups in eastern Congo and to save the February 2013 Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework (PSCF) in the Great Lakes region.




end

Stp1 loss of function promotes {beta}-lactam resistance in S. aureus that is independent of classical genes [Mechanisms of Resistance]

β-lactam resistance in Staphylococcus aureus limits treatment options. Stp1 and Stk1, a serine-threonine phosphatase and kinase respectively, mediate serine-threonine kinase (STK) signaling. Loss of function point mutations in stp1 were detected among laboratory passaged, β-lactam resistant S. aureus strains lacking mecA and blaZ, the major determinants of β-lactam resistance in the bacteria. Loss of Stp1 function facilitates β-lactam resistance of the bacteria.




end

Pharmacodynamics of Cefepime Combined with the Novel Extended-Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL) Inhibitor Enmetazobactam for Murine Pneumonia caused by ESBL-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae [Pharmacology]

Klebsiella pneumoniae that produce extended spectrum beta lactamases (ESBLs) are a persistent public health threat. There are relatively few therapeutic options and there is undue reliance on carbapenems. Alternative therapeutic options are urgently required. A combination of cefepime and the novel beta lactamase inhibitor enmetazobactam is being developed for treatment of serious infections caused by ESBL-producing organisms. The pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics (PK-PD) of cefepime-enmetazobactam against ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae was studied in a neutropenic murine pneumonia model. Dose ranging studies were performed. Dose fractionation studies were performed to define the relevant PD index for the inhibitor. The partitioning of cefepime and enmetazobactam into the lung was determined by comparing area under the concentration time curve (AUC) in plasma and epithelial lining fluid. The magnitude of drug exposure for cefepime-enmetazobactam required for logarithmic killing in the lung was defined using 3 ESBL-producing strains. Cefepime 100 mg/kg q8h i.v. had minimal antimicrobial effect. When this background regimen of cefepime was combined with enmetazobactam half-maximal effect was induced with enmetazobactam 4.71 mg/kg q8h i.v. The dose fractionation study suggest both fT>threshold and fAUC:MIC are potentially relevant PD indices. The AUCELF:AUCplasma for cefepime and enmetazobactam was 73.4% and 61.5%, respectively. A ≥2-log kill in the lung was achieved with a plasma and ELF cefepime fT>MIC of ≥20% and enmetazobactam fT>2 mg/L of ≥20% of the dosing interval. These data and analyses provide the underpinning evidence for the combined use of cefepime and enmetazobactam for nosocomial pneumonia.




end

Fenbendazole controls in vitro growth, virulence potential and animal infection in the Cryptococcus model [Experimental Therapeutics]

The human diseases caused by the fungal pathogens Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii are associated with high indices of mortality, and toxic and/or cost-prohibitive therapeutic protocols. The need for affordable antifungals to combat cryptococcal disease is unquestionable. Previous studies suggested benzimidazoles as promising anti-cryptococcal agents combining low cost and high antifungal efficacy, but their therapeutic potential has not been demonstrated so far. In this study, we investigated the antifungal potential of fenbendazole, the most effective anti-cryptococcal benzimidazole. Fenbendazole was inhibitory against 17 different isolates of C. neoformans and C. gattii at a low concentration. The mechanism of anti-cryptococcal activity of fenbendazole involved microtubule disorganization, as previously described for human parasites. In combination with fenbendazole, the concentrations of the standard antifungal amphotericin B required to control cryptococcal growth were lower than those required when this antifungal was used alone. Fenbendazole was not toxic to mammalian cells. During macrophage infection, the anti-cryptococcal effects of fenbendazole included inhibition of intracellular proliferation rates and reduced phagocytic escape through vomocytosis. Fenbendazole deeply affected the cryptococcal capsule. In a mice model of cryptococcosis, the efficacy of fenbendazole to control animal mortality was similar to that observed for amphotericin B. These results indicate that fenbendazole is a promising candidate for the future development of an efficient and affordable therapeutic tool to combat cryptococcosis.




end

Epidemiological study on prevalence, serovar diversity, multi-drug resistance and CTX-M-type extended-spectrum {beta}-lactamases of Salmonella spp. from patients with diarrhea, food of animal origin, and pets in several provinces of China [Epidemiology an

A total of 2,283 Salmonella spp. isolates were recovered from 18,334 samples including patients with diarrhea, food of animal origin and pets across 5 provinces of China. The highest prevalence of Salmonella spp. was detected in chicken meats (39.3%, 486/1,237). Fifteen serogroups and 66 serovars were identified, with Typhimurium and Enteritidis being the most dominant. Most (85.5%, 1,952/2,283) isolates exhibited resistant to ≥ 1 antimicrobial and 56.4% were multi-drug resistant (MDR). A total of 222 isolates harbored extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), 200 of which were CTX-M-type that were mostly detected from chicken meat and turtle fecal. Overall, eight blaCTX-M genes were identified, with blaCTX-M-65, blaCTX-M-123, blaCTX-M-14, blaCTX-M-79, and blaCTX-M-130 being the most prevalent. Totally, 166 of the 222 ESBL-producing isolates had amino acid substitutions in GyrA (S83Y, S83F, D87G, D87N, and D87Y) and ParC (and S80I), whilst the PMQR-encoding genes oqxA/B, qepA, and qnrB/S were detected in almost all isolates. Of the fifteen sequence types (STs) identified in the 222 ESBLs, ST17, ST11, ST34, and ST26 ranked among the top 5 in the number of isolates. Our study revealed considerable serovars diversity, high prevalence of co-occurrence of MDR determinants, including CTX-M-type ESBLs, QRDRs mutations and PMQR genes. This is the first report of CTX-M-130 Salmonella spp. from patients with diarrhea and QRDRs mutations from turtle fecal samples. Our study emphasizes the importance of actions, both in the health care settings and in the veterinary medicine sector, to control the dissemination of MDR, especially the CTX-M Salmonella spp. isolates.




end

Effect of the Lysin, Exebacase, on Cardiac Vegetation Progression in a Rabbit Model of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Endocarditis as Determined by Echocardiography [Pharmacology]

Background: MRSA pose significant therapeutic challenges, related to their: frequency in clinical infections; innate virulence properties; and propensity for multi-antibiotic resistance. MRSA are among the most common causes of endovascular infections, including infective endocarditis (IE).

Objective: To employ transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) to evaluate the effect of exebacase, a novel direct lytic agent, in experimental aortic valve MRSA IE.

Study Design: TTE was utilized to evaluate the in vivo effect of exebacase on MRSA-infected vegetation progression when combined with daptomycin (vs daptomycin alone). Primary intravegetation outcomes were: maximum size; weights at sacrifice; and MRSA counts at infection baseline vs after 4 days of daptomycin treatment (alone or in addition to exebacase administered once on treatment Day 1).

Results: A single dose of exebacase in addition to daptomycin cleared significantly more intravegetation MRSA than daptomycin alone. This was associated with a statistical trend toward reduced maximum vegetation size in the exebacase + daptomycin vs the daptomycin-alone therapy groups (p = 0.07). Also, mean vegetation weights in the exebacase-treated group were significantly lower vs daptomycin-alone (p < 0.0001). Maximum vegetation size by TTE correlated with vegetation weight (p = 0.005). In addition, intravegetation MRSA counts in the combination group were significantly lower vs untreated controls (p<0.0001) and the daptomycin-alone group (p<0.0001).

Conclusion: This study suggests that exebacase has a salutary impact on MRSA-infected vegetation progression when combined with daptomycin, especially in terms of vegetation MRSA burden, size and weight. Moreover, TTE appears to be an efficient non-invasive tool to assess therapeutic efficacies in experimental MRSA IE.




end

Avast Defends Data Harvesting, Plans to Get Users to Agree to It

On Tuesday, Avast responded to a PCMag-Motherboard investigation into the company's browser history collection practices, saying it was entirely legal. Avast users should expect to see a prompt from the antivirus products, asking them to consent to the data harvesting.




end

Avast to End Browser Data Harvesting, Terminates Jumpshot

'As CEO of Avast, I feel personally responsible and I would like to apologize to all concerned,' wrote Ondrej Vlcek following a PCMag-Motherboard investigation into the privacy risks around the data harvesting.




end

Body Dissatisfaction and Mental Health Outcomes of Youth on Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy

OBJECTIVES:

Our first aim was to examine baseline differences in body dissatisfaction, depression, and anxiety symptoms by gender, age, and Tanner (ie, pubertal) stage. Our second aim was to test for changes in youth symptoms over the first year of receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy. Our third aim was to examine potential differences in change over time by demographic and treatment characteristics. Youth experiences of suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) are also reported.

METHODS:

Participants (n = 148; ages 9–18 years; mean age 14.9 years) were receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy at a multidisciplinary program in Dallas, Texas (n = 25 puberty suppression only; n = 123 feminizing or masculinizing hormone therapy). Participants completed surveys assessing body dissatisfaction (Body Image Scale), depression (Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms), and anxiety (Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders) at initial presentation to the clinic and at follow-up. Clinicians completed the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms and collected information on youth experiences of suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and NSSI.

RESULTS:

Affirmed males reported greater depression and anxiety at baseline, but these differences were small (P < .01). Youth reported large improvements in body dissatisfaction (P < .001), small to moderate improvements in self-report of depressive symptoms (P < .001), and small improvements in total anxiety symptoms (P < .01). No demographic or treatment-related characteristics were associated with change over time. Lifetime and follow-up rates were 81% and 39% for suicidal ideation, 16% and 4% for suicide attempt, and 52% and 18% for NSSI, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

Results provide further evidence of the critical role of gender-affirming hormone therapy in reducing body dissatisfaction. Modest initial improvements in mental health were also evident.




end

Trends in Regionalization of Emergency Care for Common Pediatric Conditions

BACKGROUND:

For children who cannot be discharged from the emergency department, definitive care has become less frequent at most hospitals. It is uncertain whether this is true for common conditions that do not require specialty care. We sought to determine how the likelihood of definitive care has changed for 3 common pediatric conditions: asthma, croup, and gastroenteritis.

METHODS:

We used the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample database to study children <18 years old presenting to emergency departments in the United States from 2008 to 2016 with a primary diagnosis of asthma, croup, or gastroenteritis, excluding critically ill patients. The primary outcome was referral rate: the number of patients transferred among all patients who could not be discharged. Analyses were stratified by quartile of annual pediatric volume. We used logistic regression to determine if changes over time in demographics or comorbidities could account for referral rate changes.

RESULTS:

Referral rates increased for each condition in all volume quartiles. Referral rates were greatest in the lowest pediatric volume quartile. Referral rates in the lowest pediatric volume quartile increased for asthma (13.6% per year; 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.6%–22.2%), croup (14.8% per year; 95% CI 2.6%–28.3%), and gastroenteritis (16.4% per year; 95% CI 3.5%–31.0%). Changes over time in patient age, sex, comorbidities, weekend presentation, payer mix, urban-rural location of presentation, or area income did not account for these findings.

CONCLUSIONS:

Increasing referral rates over time suggest decreasing provision of definitive care and regionalization of inpatient care for 3 common, generally straightforward conditions.




end

Transgender Youth Experiences and Perspectives Related to HIV Preventive Services

BACKGROUND:

In the United States, transgender youth are at especially high risk for HIV infection. Literature regarding HIV prevention strategies for this vulnerable, often-hidden population is scant. Before effective, population-based HIV prevention strategies may be adequately developed, it is necessary to first enhance the contextual understanding of transgender youth HIV risk and experiences with HIV preventive services.

METHODS:

Two 3-day, online, asynchronous focus groups were conducted with transgender youth from across the United States to better understand participant HIV risk and experiences with HIV preventive services. Participants were recruited by using online advertisements posted via youth organizations. Qualitative data were analyzed by using content analysis.

RESULTS:

A total of 30 transgender youth participated. The average age was 18.6 years, and youth reported a wide range of gender identities (eg, 27% were transgender male, 17% were transgender female, and 27% used ≥1 term) and sexual orientations. Four themes emerged: (1) barriers to self-efficacy in sexual decision-making; (2) safety concerns, fear, and other challenges in forming romantic and/or sexual relationships; (3) need for support and education; and (4) desire for affirmative and culturally competent experiences and interactions (eg, home, school, and health care).

CONCLUSIONS:

Youth discussed experiences and perspectives related to their gender identities, sexual health education, and HIV preventive services. Findings should inform intervention development to improve support and/or services, including the following: (1) increasing provider knowledge and skills to provide gender-affirming care, (2) addressing barriers to services (eg, accessibility and affordability as well as stigma and discrimination), and (3) expanding sexual health education to be inclusive of all gender identities, sexual orientations, and definitions of sex and sexual activity.




end

Trends in Pediatricians Developmental Screening: 2002-2016

BACKGROUND:

Current guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend screening children for developmental problems by using a standardized screening tool and referring at-risk patients to early intervention (EI) or subspecialists. Adoption of guidelines has been gradual, with research showing many children still not being screened and referred.

METHODS:

We analyzed American Academy of Pediatrics Periodic Survey data from 2002 (response rate = 58%; N = 562), 2009 (response rate = 57%; N = 532), and 2016 (response rate = 47%, N = 469). Surveys included items on pediatricians’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding screening and referring children for developmental problems. We used descriptive statistics and a multivariable logistic regression model to examine trends in screening and referral practices and attitudes.

RESULTS:

Pediatricians’ reported use of developmental screening tools increased from 21% in 2002 to 63% in 2016 (P < .001). In 2016, on average pediatricians reported referring 59% of their at-risk patients to EI, up from 41% in 2002 (P < .001), and pediatricians in 2016 were more likely than in 2002 to report being "very likely" to refer a patient with global developmental delay, milestone loss, language delay, sensory impairment, motor delays, and family concern to EI.

CONCLUSIONS:

Pediatricians’ reported use of a standardized developmental screening tool has tripled from 2002 to 2016, and more pediatricians are self-reporting making referrals for children with concerns in developmental screening. To sustain this progress, additional efforts are needed to enhance referral systems, improve EI programs, and provide better tracking of child outcomes.




end

Trends in Pediatric Malpractice Claims 1987-2015: Results From the Periodic Survey of Fellows

BACKGROUND:

Pediatricians are less frequently sued than other physicians. When suits are successful, however, the average payout is higher. Little is known about changes in the risk of litigation over time. We sought to characterize malpractice lawsuit trends for pediatricians over time.

METHODS:

The Periodic Survey is a national random sample survey of American Academy of Pediatrics members. Seven surveys between 1987 and 2015 asked questions regarding malpractice (n = 5731). Bivariate and multivariable analyses examined trends and factors associated with risk and outcome of malpractice claims and lawsuits. Descriptive analyses examined potential change in indemnity amount over time.

RESULTS:

In 2015, 21% of pediatricians reported ever having been the subject of any claim or lawsuit, down from a peak of 33% in 1990. Report of successful outcomes in the most-recent suit trended upward between 1987 and 2015, greatest in 2015 at 58%. Median indemnity was unchanged, averaging $128 000 in 2018 dollars. In multivariate analysis, male sex, hospital-based subspecialty (neonatology, pediatric critical care, pediatric emergency medicine, and hospital medicine), longer career, and more work hours were associated with a greater risk of malpractice claim.

CONCLUSIONS:

From 1987 to 2015, the proportion of pediatricians sued has decreased and median indemnity has remained unchanged. Male pediatricians and hospital-based subspecialists were more likely to have been sued. Greater knowledge of the epidemiology of malpractice claims against pediatricians is valuable because it can impact practice arrangements, advise risk-management decisions, influence quality and safety projects, and provide data to guide advocacy for appropriate tort reform and future research.




end

Fantasy Football Matchday 7 lessons: Defenders

The start of the knockout rounds provided a reminder there is still plenty of value to be found at the defensive end of the field.




end

Deals: Lenovo Flex 14, Dell Gaming Monitor, New Nintendo Switch

Today you can save $120 on the Lenovo Flex 14 2-in-1 laptop. Also, the 24-inch Dell S2419HGF 1080p monitor dropped is now just $149.99. Finally, the new Nintendo Switch, featuring improved battery life, is now available.




end

Transgender Adolescent Suicide Behavior

Russell B. Toomey
Oct 1, 2018; 142:e20174218-e20174218
ARTICLES




end

Mental Health of Transgender Children Who Are Supported in Their Identities

Kristina R. Olson
Mar 1, 2016; 137:e20153223-e20153223
ARTICLES




end

Fin24.com | SA expats send money home to help aging parents and more

Remittances from overseas are a lifeline for many South Africans, says Richard Ambrose, CEO of Azimo.




end

Groups seek injunction to stop Idaho transgender sports ban